OBJECTIVE: To describe caregivers' feelings about alcohol abusers at hospital admission to the intensive care unit. METHODS: This qualitative study included ten family caregivers of patients admitted to an intensive care unit with a diagnosis of chronic alcohol use. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews at the respondents' homes, and data were subsequently submitted to content analysis. RESULTS: The caregivers reported suffering, sadness, desperation, and guilt. Religion appeared as a way to confront suffering, and affection by the family member was more important than the workload associated with care delivery. CONCLUSION: Admission of alcohol users to the intensive care unit is a difficult event for the patient's family and caregiver because it causes feelings of suffering, sadness, and guilt. The faith and religiosity of caregivers is an important supporting factor in response to the suffering caused by this experience.
Caregivers; Nursing research; Nursing service, hospital; Family; Alcoholic beverages